Cap for refillable tote

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11078012-B2
Application number	US-201615883217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Jul 30, 2015
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A cap with refill capability and the ability to track various aspects of the tote, cap, and equipment has been developed for use on chemical totes. It provides the ability to refill the tote without removing the cap and remove water from the fluid and air in the hose.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cap for a tote comprising:
a bonnet, wherein the bonnet can be threadedly attached to the tote;
at least one pipe adapter attached to the bonnet;
a flexible pipe attached to the at least one pipe adapter by at least one hose clamp;
a fluid-level monitoring fixture located within the at least one pipe adapter;
a GPS receiver present within a structure attached to the at least one pipe adapter;
a hygroscopic substance present within a structure attached to the at least one pipe adapter, and
a connection for refilling the tote attached to the at least one pipe adapter;
wherein the flexible pipe is in a y-configuration.

2. The cap of claim 1 , further comprising a power source.

3. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the hygroscopic substance is contained within a cartridge.

4. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-level monitoring fixture is a differential pressure sensor.

5. The cap of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure sensor measures a difference between two pressures.

6. The cap of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure sensor is used to measure a fluid level of a fluid in the tote by comparing a pressure above the fluid and another pressure below the fluid.

7. The cap of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of a fluid by measuring a pressure on a first side of a restriction and another pressure on a second side of the restriction as the fluid flows at least one of a) into the tote and b) out of the tote.

8. The cap of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure sensor measures a pressure difference across a filter.

9. The cap of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure sensor is located inside the tote.

10. The cap of claim 4 , wherein the differential pressure sensor is located outside of the tote.

11. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises an O-ring.

12. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the at least one pipe adapter is selected from the group consisting of 2 inches, 1.75 inches, 1.5 inches, 1.25 inches, 1 inch, 0.75 inches, and 0.5 inches.

13. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pipe adapter is comprised of polypropylene.

14. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pipe adapter is comprised of polyvinyl chloride.

15. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-level monitoring fixture is selected from the group consisting of sight glasses, current loops, floats, hydrostatic devices, load cells, magnetic level gauges, capacitance transmitters, time-of-flight measurements, ultrasound, radar, scales, and light.

16. The cap of claim 1 , further comprising an antenna.

17. The cap of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter.

18. A method of utilizing the cap of claim 17 , comprising:
detecting a fluid level in the tote with the fluid level monitoring fixture;
transmitting the fluid level via the transmitter;
detecting a GPS location of the tote with the GPS receiver;
transmitting the GPS location via the transmitter;
receiving the fluid level with a receiver;
receiving the GPS location with the receiver;
monitoring the fluid level in the tote; and
monitoring the GPS location of the tote.

19. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the hygroscopic substance is configured to change color when the hygroscopic substance is consumed.

Assignees

• Nch Corp

Inventors

• Aston Matthew David

Classifications

• B65D90/54 Primary

  Gates or closures · CPC title

• G01F1/36

  the pressure or differential pressure being created by the use of flow constriction · CPC title

• G01S19/13

  Receivers · CPC title

• G01F23/18

  Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically · CPC title

• B01D2259/4525

  for storage and dispensing systems · CPC title